Self-propelling toy



April 5 1927. 1,623,144

L. L.. wElss SELF PROPELLING TOY Uriflinal Filed Sept. 27, 1924' iiiiiziiiiiiiiiw a I w- 1- :iiiiwiiiiiiiiiiw ww-W f!!! mllsllllllllll SAX WITNESS INVENTOH 0 L IVE/55 lll Patented Apn 5, 1927.

UNITED fsTAlrss 1,623,144 PATENT ossi-cs.

LEO L. WEISS, oF NEW YORK, N. Y.

saLFfaerm-.LING for. i

Ap'pneamn med' september 27, 192.4, serial no. 740,20@ Renewed January 10,1927. e

This invention relates to a propelling mechanism for toys of the class in which such mechanism is spun by frictional contact with a floor or surface and when such mechanism has reached its highest possible speed the toy is deposited upon a floor and allowed to run under the influence of the propelling mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide toys with wheels having traction surfaces of substantial Width and to incorporate the propelling mechanism in one of the wheels, This arrangement provides a greater and more direct transmission of power from the surface of the driving wheel to the fly Wheel and results in a greater range of travel of the device and secures all of the mechanism in a substantial housing making the mechanism less accessible for tampering.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top view of the carriage with a portion of the wheel containing the driving mechanism broken away; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of V Fig. 1.

The carriage comprises the end plates 1 1 joined by the cross plates 2 2 secured by the rivets 3. The end plates 1 have integrally formed therewith depending brackets 4 which are perforated to provide bearings 5 for the Wheel shafts 6 6. The rear shaft 6 and the forward shaft 6 pass through their respective bearings 5, underneath the corresponding plates 1 and project a suHicient distance to both sides of the brackets 4; to provide mountings for the wheels, 7 a, 7l and 7C. The wheels are secured to the shafts G by passing the ends thereof through perforations in the hubs 9 of each wheel and through the front plate 8 and flattening the ends of the shafts. Each wheel is preferably made from a piece of sheet metal stamped to cup shape and with a substantially wide traction surface 10.y The hubs 9 are separately formed out of sheet metal and are secured inside of the cup shaped wheels 7 by the fingers 11 which pass through perforations in the outside plate of each wheel and bent over.

Each of the wheels are substantially identical-one of the rear wheels containing the propelling mechanism. Part of the propelling mechanism is secured to the plate or disc 12 which plate is fastened to one of the de pending brackets 4 at the rear of the device and secured to the bracket by a pin'13. A

gear 14 ,is secured to the rear shaft 6 and meshes with a pinion 15 loosely mounted on the pin 18. This pinion 15 carries the gear 16 with which it is preferably formed integral. The fly wheel comprises a sheet metal stamping 17 shaped to form the outer wall 18 and the inner wall 19 providing a peripheral groove in the fly Wheel which is filled with lead 22 having the lformation of a ring. The fly wheel has a circular recess formed therein which is closed at its end by the wall 20, centrally of which Wall is secured the pinion 2l, wedged in its recess in the fly wheel. The pinion 21 meshes with the gear 16 and through this pinion motion is transmitted from the driving wheel 7 a to the fly wheel. The wheel 7 a, as heretofore explained, contains therein the driving mechanism, the inner end of which is closed by the plate 12.

The carriage is intended to carry a suitable figure such as an imitation of an animalv or the like, the legs of which are secured through the four perforations 23 in the cross arms 2 2.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the wheels are caused to rotate, by repeatedly stroking the device on a floor or a like surface, the motion thereof is transmitted to the fly wheel through the rear shaft 6 and the intermeshing gears whereupon the fly wheel is caused to spin at a high rate of speed. When the fly wheel has reached its maximum speed, and the toy is placed upon the floor, the fly Wheel continues to impart its motion to the device and propel it for a considerable distance. f

It is considered of advantage to place the lead weight 22 of the ily Wheel in the preformed sheet metal container for the reason that it provides a continuous and perfect periphery for the fly wheel.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a toy in combination, a plurality of wheels, a shaft connecting two of said wheels, a gear secured to said shaftnear one end thereof, a fiy Wheel supported on said shaft and positioned between said gear and said shaft end, and gear connections between said gear and fly wheel, said gear, fly wheel and gear connections being enclosed within one of said wheels.

2. A toy comprising a plurality of wheels, a shaft, said shaft having a fly wheel mounted thereon, said fly Wheel having its outer end portion bent to form a circumferential groove, a weighty material in said groove, the center portion of said fly wheel being pressed inwardly to form a recess Within said groove portion, a hub in said recess supporting an end of said shaft, a pinion on said fly wheel, a gear on said shaft and gears con.

necting said pinion and gear.

3. A toy comprising a plurality of wheels, one of said wheels being made of sheet metal provided with a wide traction surface forming a hollow body, a hub secured to the inside wall of said body, a shaft, the end of which passes through said hub, a propelling mechanism contained within said hollow body, said propelling mechanism comprising a casing having a depressed center and a flange forming a groove, a weight in said groove, a pinion secured to said casing, said pinion being adapted to transmit motion through suitable gearings to the said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LEO L. WEISS. 

